>>DON: TONIGHT ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS JOINS US TO DISCUSS THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE PANDEMIC AND EXPANDING VACCINATION ELIGIBILITY IN THE STATE IN TWO WEEKS - ESSENTIALLY DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAN GET IN LINE FOR A SHOT.

WE'LL ALSO BE JOINED BY HOBSON CITY MAYOR ALBERTA MCCRORY, WHO'LL DISCUSS AN EFFORT TO COMBAT VACCINE HESITANCY AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS.

CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER JEFF DUNN AND PARDONS AND PAROLE DIRECTOR CAM WARD WILL BE WITH US TO TALK ABOUT A RENEWED COLLABORATION TO TRY TO HELP SOLVE OUR PRISON PROBLEMS.

AND DAVID FULLER AND HIS DAUGHTER, JESS, FROM GADSDEN JOIN US TO DISCUSS THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE BILL THAT WOULD BAN CERTAIN TRANSGENDER MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR MINORS.

IT'S ALL NEXT ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>>DON: GOOD EVENING.

FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M DON DAILEY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, THE STATE ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT IT WILL EXPAND ELIGIBILITY FOR THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE IN A LITTLE OVER A WEEK.

STARTING MARCH 22ND, THOSE 55 AND OLDER, PERSONS WITH HIGH-RISK MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND CRITICAL WORKERS NOT ALREADY ELIGIBLE CAN START MAKING APPOINTMENTS TO GET A SHOT.

STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS SPOKE TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THAT AIDS A LARGE NUMBER OF ALABAMIANS TO THE POOL THAT ARE ELIGIBLE.

I THINK EVERYONE WILL REALIZE RATHER QUICKLY IT IS NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TONS OF VACCINE AROUND.

WE ARE SEEING SLOW BUT STEADY INCREASES IN THE AMOUNT OF VACCINE WE HAVE.

WE DON'T HAVE MUCH AVAILABLE VACCINE.

WE CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE VACCINES ON THE SHELF BUT IT'S TIME TO EXPAND THE POOL.

>>DON: RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF VACCINE ELIGIBILITY EXPANSION ON THE 22ND, THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD WILL START ASSISTING IN MOBILE VACCINATION CLINICS AROUND THE STATE ON MARCH 23RD.

DR. HARRIS WILL JOIN US LATER IN THE BROADCAST TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

>>DON: ALABAMA AND THE NATION THIS WEEK MARKED THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

IN A YEAR'S TIME, OUR STATE HAS SEEN OVER HALF A MILLION POSITIVE VIRUS CASES AND OVER TEN THOUSAND RELATED DEATHS.

STATE FLAGS ARE CURRENTLY FLYING AT HALF STAFF IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WE LOST.

IN OUR IN-DEPTH REPORT TONIGHT, "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" KAREN GOLDSMITH LOOKS BACK AND AHEAD WITH OUR STATE'S LEADER.

>> ONE YEAR AGO, ALABAMA GOVERNOR IVEY MADE THESE STATEMENTS.

>> OUR FIRST CASE OF CONFIRMED CASE WAS ANNOUNCED EARLIER TODAY.

I AM NOW ISSUING A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR OUR STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> THOSE ANNOUNCEMENTS PROMPTED THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE SOME TOUGH AND UNPOPULAR DECISIONS.

>> WHEN THESE PEOPLE ARE MAD THEY ARE FURIOUS, KAY IVEY SHUT THE STATE DOWN SO WE CAN'T OPEN AND CAN'T DO OUR JOB TO MAKE A LIVING TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILY.

I'M ABOUT TO LOSE EVERYTHING I'VE GOT BECAUSE OF THIS.

THIS FRIDAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO FOR FOOD OR MONEY.

>> TODAY SHE REFLECTS ON THAT ORDER.

>> THEY ARE TOUGH DECISIONS BECAUSE WHEN YOU CLOSE A BUSINESS DOWN, THE LIKELIHOOD IS THE BUSINESS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN AGAIN.

YOU CAN'T HAVE A LIFE WITHOUT A LIVELIHOOD.

IT MAKES NO SENSE TO CLOSE BUSINESSES DOWN AND ONE MISTAKE I KNOW I DID MAKE IS CLOSING SOME DOWN AND NOT OTHERS AND THOSE BUSINESSES BECAME ESSENTIAL AND NONESSENTIAL.

THAT'S DEFINITELY A MISNOMER BECAUSE ALL BUSINESSES ARE ESSENTIAL.

>> IN MAY, WITH SOME LIMITATIONS BUSINESSES REOPENED.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE COVID CRISIS HAS SHOWN HER THIS ABOUT ALABAMA'S RESIDENTS.

>> FOR SURE I'M LEARNING PEOPLE ARE CREATIVE.

WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A WAY AND OUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CREATIVE TO KEEP THEIR BUSINESSES OPEN AND CONTINUE TO SERVE THEIR CUSTOMERS.

ALSO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A PAYCHECK.

>> SHE IS FORECASTING BRIGHTER DAYS.

>> IF WE GET ENOUGH SHOTS IN THE ARMS THAT WE CAN PUT THIS COVID-19 BEHIND US, I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT WE CAN AND WE ARE CERTAINLY WORKING IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

>>DON: ALABAMA IS SET TO RECEIVE MORE THAN $4 BILLION FROM THE $1.9 TRILLION COVID-19 RELIEF AND STIMULUS PACKAGE THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN THIS WEEK.

THE BILL, CALLED THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, RECEIVED FINAL PASSAGE IN THE U.S. HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY, AND IT WILL PROVIDE $1400 STIMULUS CHECKS TO MANY CITIZENS, A LOT MORE MONEY FOR VACCINES AND AID FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

ALABAMA'S REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN JOINED WITH THE REST OF THEIR PARTY IN VOTING AGAINST THE PLAN CONCERNED ABOUT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MASSIVE COST AND THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC IMPACT.

DEMOCRATS LIKE ALABAMA CONGRESSWOMAN TERRI SEWELL ARE PRAISING THE EXPANSION OF VACCINATION EFFORTS AND MORE.

>> IT ALSO PUTS CHILDREN SAFELY BACK IN SCHOOL WITH THE NEARLY $130 BILLION INVESTMENT.

IT WILL PUT MONEY IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS, DELIVER $1,400 STIMULUS CHECKS, AS WELL AS EXPAND RELIABLE CHILDCARE AND AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE.

>> THE SOME $4 BILLION THAT ALABAMA IS SET TO RECEIVE FROM THE BIG COVID STIMULUS BILL WILL BE USED FOR A STATE RELIEF FUND FOR A STATE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND AND FOR CITIES AND COUNTIES.

>>DON: THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE MAY NOW BE POISED TO MOVE ON TO ‘PLAN B,' AFTER THE SENATE THIS WEEK DEFEATED A SWEEPING GAMBLING EXPANSION BILL.

ANNISTON SENATOR DEL MARSH'S PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE SET UP A STATE LOTTERY AND ALLOWED CASINOS AND SPORTS BETTING IN ALABAMA.

IT FELL 19-13 ON TUESDAY, TWO VOTES SHY OF THE 21 NEEDED FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

>> I HAD SIX MORE VOTES THREE WEEKS AGO FROM MEMBERS AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO SATISFY MEMBERS AND BE OPEN AND TALK, AS I SAID NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED.

EVERY WEEK THAT TICKS BY, THE GOVERNOR WANTED ENABLING LEGISLATION AND I WARNED EVERYONE THE LONGER THIS WENT ON IT WAS A RISK OF LOSING VOTES.

SO, I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.

>> MANY OF THOSE WHO VOTED NO ON MARSH'S GAMBLING PLAN THIS WEEK SAID THEY WERE MOST CONCERNED WITH THE CASINO ASPECT OF IT AND THE SO-CALLED ‘FINE PRINT' OF THE ENABLING LEGISLATION.

ONE OF THOSE WHO VOTED ‘NO' WAS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CLAY SCOFIELD OF GUNTERSVILLE, WHO HAS SAID THAT A LOTTERY-ONLY PLAN WOULD'VE STOOD A MUCH BETTER CHANCE, WHAT WITH CONSTITUENTS CLAMORING FOR A CHANCE TO VOTE ON IT.

A COUPLE OF NEW LOTTERY BILLS HAVE BEEN FILED IN THE WAKE OF THE BIG GAMBLING PLAN'S FAILURE AND SCOFIELD IS PREDICTING THAT ONE OF THEM WILL EVENTUALLY MAKE IT TO THE FLOOR.

>> I THINK THE LIKELIHOOD OF THAT IS PRETTY STRONG.

I REALLY DO.

WE'RE NOT EVEN HALF WAY THROUGH YET.

SO, I THINK YOU HAVE SEEN MOMENTUM THAT HAS GOT US THINKING.

YOU KNOW, I'D RATHER HAVE THIS.

SO, I THINK IT'S FAIR.

I THINK WE ARE HEARING FROM FOLKS EVEN MORE NOW.

THIS ISSUE IS BEING STIRRED UP.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT.

I THINK THERE'S A MANDATE.

>>DON: THE NOTION THAT ALABAMIANS WANT A CHANCE TO VOTE IN A LOTTERY REFERENDUM WAS BEHIND AT LEAST ONE OF THE NEW LOTTERY-ONLY BILLS THAT WERE FILED THIS WEEK.

IT'S SPONSORED BY SENATOR GARLAN GUDGER OF CULLMAN, WHO WAS AMONG THE ‘NO' VOTES ON THE BIG GAMBLING EXPANSION PLAN.

GUDGER SPOKE TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> MY DISTRICT IN DISTRICT 4, COLEMAN, MARION AND LAWRENCE COUNTY HAVE MADE IT CLEAR EVERYWHERE I GO, WITH THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS OR WHEN I DO A PUBLIC SPEECH THEY COME AND ASK THE QUESTION.

IT'S THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION THROUGHOUT THE I STATE.

WHEN CAN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY VOTE ON THE LOTTERY.

I'M READY FOR THEM TO VOTE ON THE LOTTERY.

>> GUDGER'S PLAN PROPOSES A PAPER LOTTERY THAT WOULD BENEFIT EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS.

THE OTHER LOTTERY BILL THAT WAS INTRODUCED THIS WEEK IS SPONSORED BY SENATOR JIM MCCLENDON OF SPRINGVILLE.

IT WOULD INVOLVE BOTH A PAPER AND ELECTRONIC LOTTERY, WITH THE PROCEEDS SPLIT BETWEEN THE STATE EDUCATION AND GENERAL FUND BUDGETS.

>>DON: THE HOUSE THIS WEEK PASSED A $2.4 BILLION GENERAL FUND BUDGET, THE LARGEST EVER, DESPITE THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES OF THE PANDEMIC.

IT WAS PART OF A VERY BUSY WEEK IN THE LOWER CHAMBER.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" RANDY SCOTT REPORTS FOR US TONIGHT.

>> I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A VERY GOOD BUDGET.

LEAVES SOME MONEY ON THE TABLE TO HELP US GET READY FOR ANY TYPE OF OTHER SURPRISES WE MIGHT HAVE DOWN THE ROAD.

>> HOUSE GENERAL FUND CHAIRMAN GIVES LAWMAKERS GOOD NEWS TO START OFF THE WEEK IN THE FORM OF AN APPROVED 2022 GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

IT'S A BUSY LIST OF BILLS TO DEBATE IN THE HOUSE, INCLUDING HOUSE BILL 403.

IT TACKLES THE SUBJECT OF DOXING, WHEN PRIVATE INFORMATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, FIRST RESPONDERS, ALONG WITH STATE OFFICIALS IS POSTED ONLINE.

>> A JUDGE OUT IN CALIFORNIA THAT WAS SHOT WHERE SOMEONE DOXED THEM AND PUT THEIR INFORMATION OUT.

SO IT IS GOING ON ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ALABAMA DOESN'T HAVE A LAW THAT ADDRESSES OR DEALS WITH IT AND THAT'S WHAT THE LAW WILL DO.

>> HOUSE BILL 403 PASSES.

COMMITTEES SEE ACTION.

THE HOUSE JUDICIARY'S COMMITTEE INCLUDES A PUBLIC HEARING FOR SENATE BILL 46, WHICH PROPOSES NEW GUIDELINES FOR MEDICINAL MARIJUANA USE IN ALABAMA.

>> THERE WILL BE DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET TO GET A MEDICAL CANNABIS CARD AND ENTERED INTO THE REGISTRY AND ALLOWED TO HAVE IT IF YOU HAVE CERTAIN QUALIFYING CONDITIONS.

>> WHEN PEOPLE SAY MEDICAL MARIJUANA IT GIVES PEOPLE THE IDEA THAT IT IS OKAY, LIKE TYLENOL.

ANYBODY CAN TAKE IT.

IT IS SAFE.

I'VE SEEN SO MANY KIDS GET INTO SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

>> SENATE BILL 46 WILL BE VOTED ON IN A FUTURE COMMITTEE MEETING.

FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>> THE HOUSE HEALTH COMMITTEE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON A CLOSELY WATCHED BILL THAT WILL BAN CERTAIN TRANSGENDER TREATMENTS FOR MINORS.

IT'S SPONSORED BY SENATOR SHAY SHELNUTT OF TRUSSVILLE, WHO GOT THE LEGISLATION PASSED OUT OF THE UPPER CHAMBER LAST WEEK.

>> THE RESEARCH SHOWS 85 TO 95% OF THESE KIDS GROW OUT OF THIS, MATURE OUT OF THESE KID AND DON'T WANT TO BE THE OPPOSITE SEX BY THE TIME THEY REACH MATURITY.

THAT'S WHAT IS INTENDED.

WE WANT TO PROTECT KIDS THAT CAN'T PROTECT THEMSELVES.

>> DON: SUPPORTERS OF SHELNUTT'S BILL HAVE CONCEDED THAT GENDER DYSPHORIA CAN BE AN ISSUE FOR YOUTH, BUT THEY BELIEVE THAT DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR BODIES CAN WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE ADULTS.

ADVOCATES AND PARENTS OF TRANSGENDER TEENS HAVE ARGUED THAT THE BILL WILL HURT THE YOUTH AND INFRINGE ON THE DECISIONS OF FAMILIES AND DOCTORS.

DAVID FULLER AND HIS DAUGHTER, JESS, ARE AMONG THEM.

THEY SPOKE TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ABOUT DEPENDING ON THEIR DOCTOR'S ADVICE.

>> WE'RE ABNORMAL PEOPLE IN AN ABNORMAL SITUATION.

THEY GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CARE FOR HER IN A WAY I COULD NOT HAVE.

IF THIS BILL GOES THROUGH AND THESE KIDS END UP BEING DENIED THE HEALTHCARE THEY NEED, THE KIDS AREN'T DISAPPEARING AS TRANSGENDER YOUTH.

THEY WILL DISAPPEAR AS SUICIDE NUMBERS UNFORTUNATELY.

>> DON: DAVID AND JESS FULLER WILL JOIN US LATER IN THE BROADCAST TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

THERE WAS NO COMMITTEE VOTE TAKEN THIS WEEK ON THE TRANSGENDER YOUTH BILL.

THAT COULD COME NEXT WEEK.

>> DON: THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THIS WEEK HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATION THAT WOULD INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR RIOTING.

IT'S LEGISLATION THAT CAME IN RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE THAT BROKE OUT DURING PROTESTS OVER THE POLICE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD IN MINNESOTA LAST YEAR.

THE MEASURE IS SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN TREADAWAY OF MORRIS, WHO IS A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER.

>> AFTER WORKING IN BIRMINGHAM 31 YEARS AND AT THOSE PROTESTS, IT WAS VERY ALARMING WHAT I SAW.

THE BILL RATCHETS UP THE CRIMES FOR THESE FOLKS OUT THERE LOOTING, BREAKING INTO BUILDINGS AND ASSAULTS POLICE OFFICERS OR ANY PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONDER.

>> WE HAD A HEARING ON THAT BILL TODAY.

IT'S GONE TO SUBCOMMITTEE FOR -- IT MIGHT COME UP NEXT WEEK BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME WORK DONE TO NOT ONLY TALK ABOUT THE DEFINITIONS IN THE BILL BUT TO ALSO MAYBE HAVE GREATER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF IT.

>> DON: REPRESENTATIVE ENGLAND, WHO ALSO SERVES AS CHAIRMAN OF THE ALABAMA DEMOCRATIC PARTY, CONTENDED THAT THE DEFINITION OF RIOT IN TREADAWAY'S BILL IS TOO BROAD AND SAYS THAT HE FELT THE LEGISLATION ALMOST WEAPONIZES LAW ENFORCEMENT TO SUPPRESS PROTECTED FREE SPEECH.

>> DON: THE SENATE ON THURSDAY DELAYED A VOTE ON A CLOSELY WATCHED BILL THAT WOULD CURTAIL THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS.

IT'S SPONSORED BY SENATOR TOM WHATLEY OF AUBURN, WHO DEBATED WITH MINORITY LEADER BOBBY SINGLETON HIS PLAN TO GIVE THE LEGISLATURE OVERSIGHT OF EXECUTIVE EMERGENCY HEALTH ORDERS EXTENDED BEYOND 165 DAYS.

>> NOW, AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE DETERMINE THAT THAT BECOMES NOT AN EMERGENCY BUT A CONTINUING OPERATION.

AT THAT TIME, THE GOVERNOR WOULD NEED TO CALL THE LECTURE BACK INTO SESSION TO APPROVE ANY PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY FROM THEREON.

>> I THINK IF WE HAD TO WAIT ON THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM THAT DIDN'T BELIEVE IN IT -- YOU WOULDN'T WEAR MASKS.

YOU WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE.

YOU TALKED AGAINST VACCINATIONS.

IF WE HAD TO WAIT ON THIS LEGISLATURE, WE WOULD PROBABLY BE DEAD.

>>DON: SENATOR WHATLEY'S EMERGENCY POWERS LEGISLATION WILL LIKELY RETURN TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE NEXT WEEK.

>> DON: THE HOUSE ON THURSDAY APPROVED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD LIFT THE BAN ON YOGA IN ALABAMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR THAT REPRESENTATIVE JEREMY GRAY OF OPELIKA HAS BROUGHT THE BILL, CONTENDING THAT YOGA HAS OBVIOUS HEALTH BENEFITS AND THAT IT'S ALREADY PRACTICED IN MANY OTHER PUBLIC VENUES.

>> FOR ME TO PUT IT IN ACTION WHERE IT IS LEGAL AND PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY DO IT, I JUST THOUGHT I WAS A GREAT PERSON TO DO IT.

I HAVE BEEN DOING YOGA FOR SEVEN YEARS AND KNOW THE BENEFITS OF YOGA.

IT IS DEAR TO MY HEART AND I THINK ALABAMA WILL BE BETTER FOR IT.

>>DON: YOGA WAS BANNED IN STATE SCHOOLS 23 YEARS AGO, AFTER CONCERNS WERE RAISED OVER ITS CONNECTION TO EASTERN RELIGIONS.

WITH THURSDAY'S HOUSE APPROVAL, REPRESENTATIVE GRAY'S BILL NOW MOVES TO THE SENATE.

>> DON: REPRESENTATIVE WILL DISMUKES OF PRATTVILLE WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL THIS AFTERNOON AFTER BEING TAKEN FROM THE HOUSE FLOOR THURSDAY BY AMBULANCE.

HE HAD EXPERIENCED CHEST PAIN AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH AND LATER SAID HE HAD SUFFERED FROM AN IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT, OR A-FIB.

DISMUKES SAID THIS AFTERNOON THAT HE FELT GREAT, AND THAT THERE WAS NO MAJOR DAMAGE TO HIS HEART, BUT THAT HE WOULD CONTINUE TO BE TESTED.

DISMUKES SAID HE PLANS TO RETURN TO WORK AT THE STATEHOUSE NEXT WEEK.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT A TV.ORG AND EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

YOU CAN CONNECTING WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" PODCASTS.

KEEP UP WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, COMMISSIONER DUNN IS WITH US.

AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE ALABAMA BUREAU OF PARDON AND PATROLS CAM WARD.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BACK.

>> FORGIVE ME IF I CALL YOU SENATOR AT SOME POINT.

>> I HAVE BEEN CALLED A LOT WORSE.

THAT'S OKAY.

>> THE BUREAU OF DEPARTMENT OF PAROLES AND CORRECTIONS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO BE MORE COLLABORATIVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE CONCEDED THAT COLLABORATION WASN'T ALWAYS WHAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN, RIGHT?

>> I THINK SINCE DIRECTOR WARD AND I MAY HAVE CALLED HIM SENATOR BECAUSE THAT'S HOW I HAVE KNOWN HIM, CAME ON BOARD.

THAT WAS HIS RIGHT OUT OF THE CHUTE.

HE WANTED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE DOC.

IT IS WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS WANTED AND WE COULDN'T BE MORE PLEASED WITH THE TEAM WE ARE BUILDING HERE AND WHAT THAT POTENTIALLY COULD DO FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN ALABAMA.

>> DIRECTOR WARD, GIVEN THE PRESSURES WE OPERATE UNDER NOW CONCERNING OUR PRISON SYSTEM THIS STRENGTHENING OF A RELATIONSHIP COULDN'T COME AT A MORE CRITICAL TIME.

>> TOO MANY TIMES WE HAD ARTIFICIAL BARRIERS IN PLACE WHERE WE HAD CREATED STRUCTURES WHERE DOC OPERATED SEPARATELY FROM PARDONS AND PAROLES AND THE COURTS AND ON AND ON AND ON.

IF YOU WANT TO GET CREATIVE AND FIX THE ISSUES FACING OUR STATE, OUR AGENCIES SHOULD COLLABORATE MORE, WORK TOGETHER MORE AND LOOK AT THESE ISSUES AS ONE UNIT OPPOSED TO SEPARATE SILOS.

>> I KNOW TRANSPARENCY HAS BEEN ONE THING YOU WANT TO STRENGTHEN WITH PARDONS AND PAROLES.

>> I THINK THE STARTING PLACE FOR THAT TRANSPARENCY IS JUST TRANSPARENCY BETWEEN LEADERSHIP.

FIRST THING DIRECTOR WARD AND I TALKED ABOUT, BOTH OF OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

IF THAT UNDERGIRDS EVERYTHING WE DO AND WILL DO IN THE FUTURE.

AND THEN FIGURING OUT THOSE PLACES IN OUR DEPARTMENTS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO TALK MORE TOGETHER AND NEED TO START COMMUNICATING AND BEGIN TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE THAT IS PART OF EVERYDAY OPERATIONS OF BOTH INSTITUTIONS TOWARD A COMMON OUTCOME.

WE ARE OFF TO A GOOD START.

I THINK, AGAIN, I COULDN'T BE MORE PLEASED WITH THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING.

>> DIRECTOR WARD, THE COMMUNICATION ESPECIALLY CRUCIAL WITH INMATES BECAUSE I THINK IT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WANT TO WORK ON HERE.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

A LOT OF IT IS DATA SHARING.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A SIMPLE ISSUE BUT THIS MORNING, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR AGENCY WAS WORKING WITH DOC TOGETHER, IN COLLABORATION, MAKING SURE WE HAVE CORRECT DATA ON INMATES, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE CORRECT DATA ON RECIDIVISM RATE.

THAT SOUNDS SIMPLE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE ALL ALONG BUT IT HASN'T BEEN DONE THAT WAY.

THAT COLLABORATION ENHANCES THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE A BETTER SYSTEM.

>> IN BUILDING ON THAT INMATE TRUST SO TO SPEAK IN THE TRUST, MR. COMMISSIONER, IT PROVIDES A SENSE OF HOPE THERE IS AN END IN SIGHT FOR THESE INMATES.

>> INMATES WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S EXPECTED OF THEM WHILE THEY ARE IN PRISON AND IF THEY DO THOSE THING COULD THERE BE A POSITIVE OUTCOME?

ARE THERE THINGS LIKE EDUCATION, TREATMENT, LIFE SKILLS THAT WE CAN OFFER THEM TO HELP THEM GET INTO A BETTER POSITION SO THAT THE PAROLE BOARD, WHEN THEY LOOK AT THAT INMATE SAYS THIS INDIVIDUAL HAS SERVED THEIR TIME.

THEY HAVE PAID THEIR DEBT AND THEY ARE READY TO REENTER SOCIETY IN A SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE MANNER.

>> ONE OF THE KEY POINTS, MR. DIRECTOR, IN YOUR COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP HERE WITH CORRECTIONS IS BUILDING ON INMATE REHABILITATION TO ENSURE THEY CAN BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS WHEN WE LEASED.

>> IT COMES BACK TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY MODEL.

WHAT DO WE WANT AS A PUBLIC SAFETY MODEL?

WHAT DO WE WANT THEM TO LOOK LIKE WHEN THEY GET OUT.

THE PERSON WILL BE LIKE THE DAY THEY GET OUT THAT THEY WERE THE DAY BEFORE THEY GET OUT.

WE WANT THEM TO GET AN EDUCATION, PAY TAXES AND GET A JOB.

THAT'S A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT.

WE ALL WANT THAT.

EMPHASIZING MORE REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS AND INVESTING IN THAT REDUCES RECIDIVISM AND THE THREAT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> MR. COMMISSIONER, ARE YOU HOPEFUL THIS MAY SERVE US WELL AS WE NEGOTIATE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH THE LAWSUIT?

>> THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT VIOLENCE IS AN ISSUE IN OUR FACILITIES.

ONE THING WE THINK THIS WILL DO, THIS COLLABORATION IS BUILD ON THE IDEA OF HOPE SO AN INMATE KNOWS IF THEY DO WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM AND ONE OF THE EXPECTATIONS IS NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN VIOLENCE THAT WILL RESULT IN A POSITIVE OUTCOME.

THAT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY GOAL WE CAN HAVE AND ANYBODY LOOKING FROM OUTSIDE INTO OUR SYSTEM THAT SEES THE IMPACT THAT A GOOD, SOLID, YOU KNOW, TRACKABLE SYSTEM THAT AN INMATE CAN FOLLOW THAT RESULTS IN A POSITIVE OUTCOME IS POSITIVE FOR EVERYBODY TO INCLUDE WHENEVER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING AT.

>> GOVERNOR IVEY'S PLAN HAS BEEN AND HOT TOPIC.

ITS CRITICS CONTEND IT WILL NOT ADDRESS THE VIOLENCE ISSUE BEHIND BARS.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT I WOULD INVITE THOSE FOLKS TO COME TO ONE OF OUR FACILITIES AND LET ME OR MY STAFF POINT OUT TO THEM ALL OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THESE FACILITIES PLACE ON OUR STAFF WITH RESPECT TO VIOLENCE.

AND THEN SHOW THEM THE CONCEPTS AND THE IDEAS WE ARE PUTTING INTO THESE FACILITIES THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE PROVEN TO CREATE SAFER ENVIRONMENTS, BRINGING TECHNOLOGY, BRINGING FULL-RANGE CAMERA SYSTEMS, FULL STATE OF THE ART LOCKING MECHANISMS, SITE LINES, A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS THAT PRISONS BILL IN THE '50s AND '60s THAT HAVEN'T BEEN MAINTAINED SIMPLY DON'T AFFORD THE STATE RIGHT NOW.

>> DIRECTOR WARD, YOU TOOK OVER AN AGENCY A WHILE BACK THAT HAS BEEN A TROUBLED ONE TO SAY THE LEAST AND RECONSTITUTED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

THIS FAR INTO THE JOB, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE DIRECTION?

>> I FEEL WE ARE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THE REASON IS BECAUSE WE'RE THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.

LET'S QUIT LOOKING AT OLD SCHOOL MODELS, AS I SAID BEFORE OF IT IS MY AGENCY VERSUS DOC, VERSUS THE COURTS.

WHY NOT WORK TOGETHER?

I THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND I BELIEVE COMING FROM A POLICY MAKING SIDE YOU KIND OF SEE THE POLICY AND THE EXECUTIVE SIDE.

BUT YOU SEE THE BARRIERS PUT IN PLACE.

I THINK WE ARE HEADING HE RIGHT DIRECTION BECAUSE WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND HOW CAN WE MAKE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WORK BETTER.

FORGET WHOSE TURF IT IS.

WHAT DO WE DO TO MAKE IT BETTER?

>> ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS WORKING TO DECREASE A BACKLOG OF CASES TO BE HEARD BEFORE THE PAROLE BOARD THERE'S A BILL IN THE SESSION THAT WOULD CREATE A SECOND PARDONS AND PAROLES BOARD TO DECREASE THE BACKLOG.

ANY IMPRESSIONS?

>> I'D REFER TO REPRESENTATIVE HILL ON THAT.

I WILL NOT TELL HIM ON HIS LEGISLATIVE SIDE WHAT TO DO.

I WILL SAY WE HAVE INCREASED DOCKET HEARINGS BY 40%.

SO WE HAVE HEADING THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I THINK IT IS DISINGENUOUS TO LOOK AT QUANTITY.

EVERYONE SAYS THIS IS THE QUANTITY YOU ARE HEARING NOW VERSUS THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO.

I THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL CASES BEING HEARD, WHO'S QUALIFYING AND NOT QUALIFYING TO BE HEARD BECAUSE THE DEMOGRAPHICS CHANGE A LOT, TOO.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT A HOLISTIC APPROACH.

I WILL SAY THEY ARE NOT ON THE WRONG TRACK.

WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL BEFORE WE THINK THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT JUSTIFIES SUCCESS OR FAILURE.

>> COMMISSIONER DUNN, MANY HAVE SAID IF WE ARE GOING TO GO THIS ROUTE OF PRIVATE LEASE PRISON SYSTEM, AND WE ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION, WE NEED SENTENCING REFORM AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MEASURES UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

ARE YOU ENCOURAGED BY WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN?

>> THERE ARE AND I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THOSE CAME OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S STUDY GROUP TWO YEARS AGO IN PREPARATION FOR LAST YEAR'S SESSION.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT COVID DID TO THAT.

THIS IS THE NATURAL FOLLOW ON TO THAT.

YEAH, I AM.

AGAIN, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO ON THE FRONT END OF THE SYSTEM TO HELP DIVERT PEOPLE OR GIVE PEOPLE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES SO THEY DON'T END UP IN THE PRISON SYSTEM, I THINK THOSE THINGS ARE POSITIVE.

IT HAS A POSITIVE EFFECT ON US IN THE DOC AND I THINK DOWN THE LINE HAS A POSITIVE EFFECT ON DIRECTOR WARD'S ORGANIZATION.

>> IT SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS, CONCERTED EFFORT AND I THINK LAWMAKERS ARE NOT TAKING FOR GRANTED THINK EFFORTS OF THOSE IN ADDITION TO THE NEW PRISON COMPONENT OF ALL OF THIS.

>> I THINK WHAT DIRECTOR WARD AND I ARE TRYING TO DO IS TO STEP BACK AND TAKE A HOLISTIC LOOK AT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND WHAT'S OUR ROLE IN IT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES WHERE RESOURCE INVESTMENTS NEED TO BE MADE, POSSIBLY LEGISLATION, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

WHAT WE ARE OFFERING IS A NO-COST SMART WAY OF OPERATING.

THAT IS TWO AGENCIES COLLABORATING TOGETHER, STARTING AT THE TOP AND DIRECTING DOWNWARD THAT WE WILL WORK TOWARD AGREED UPON OUTCOMES.

THAT DOESN'T COST THE TAXPAYERS ANY MONEY BUT WE ARE OPTIMISTIC AND VERY MUCH BELIEVE THAT WILL RESULT IN MORE PUBLIC SAFETY AND INMATES PREPARED TO REENTER SOCIETY AS DIRECTOR WARD SAID.

95% OF THEM ULTIMATELY WILL IN THE END.

IT IS IN EVERYBODY'S BEST INTEREST TO SUPPORT THAT.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE, YOUR BUDGET COMES OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, AS DOES THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

THE HOUSE WAS TAKING UP THE GENERAL FUND THIS WEEK.

YOUR BUDGET WOULD ALMOST DOUBLE UNDER THEIR PROPOSED VERSION BUT THAT IS BECAUSE OF ROLLOVER MONEY.

YOU DIDN'T GET AS MUCH.

>> THERE WAS A CUT MADE TO THE BUDGET.

I WAS INVOLVED IN THE CUT BECAUSE I DIDN'T LIKE HOW MUCH IT WAS.

BUT THE FACT WE GOT DOUBLE TO MAKE UP FOR THE SHORT FALL IS GOOD.

WE HAVE INVESTING IT IN OFFICERS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH TO MONITOR PEOPLE ON PAROLE AS WELL AS WE WILL START A HUGE INVESTMENT IN REENTRY CENTERS, MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE EDUCATION PARTNERS TO -- WHEN SOMEONE REENTERS WE TAKE EVERY STEP TO REDUCE THEM FROM EVERY COMING BACK INTO THE SYSTEM.

THAT'S WHERE OUR BIG INVESTMENTS WILL COME IN AT.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

BUT BEFORE WE CLOSE, COST HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE.

ARE YOU ON BOARD WITH GOVERNOR IVEY IT CAN PAY FOR ITSELF IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE COST?

>> THERE'S NO QUESTION THE OPERATIONAL SAVINGS AND FUTURE COST AVOIDANCE IS WELL OVER THE COST OF LEASES WE WILL EVENTUALLY NEGOTIATE.

>> ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER JEFFERSON DUNN AND CAM WARD.

NICE TO HAVE YOU IN THE STUDIO.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US ON.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

♪ >>> LAST WEEK ON THE SHOW, WE HOSTED REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN OF TROY WHO WAS SPONSORING LEGISLATION IN THE HOUSE.

IT WAS BACK IN COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.

WE ARE PRESENTING THE OTHER SIDE TONIGHT.

DAVID FULLER OF GADSDEN MADE HEADLINES A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHEN HE GAVE TESTIMONY ON THIS ISSUE IN COMMITTEE AND HE IS JOINING US IN THE STUDIO.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANKS FOR INVITING US.

>> WHO'S WITH YOU TODAY?

>> THIS IS MY LOVELY DAUGHTER JESS FULLER.

SHE'S THE REASON WE ARE HERE.

>> NOW YOU ARE POSED OF COURSE I WILL TO SB-10.

YOU HAVE A TRANS CHILD.

YOU WANT TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON THE BENEFITS OF THESE TREATMENTS AND NOT BANNING THEM, CORRECT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS, AS I CAN SEE, ESPECIALLY FROM THE TESTIMONY THAT FROM THE SIDE THAT WANTS TO PASS THIS IS THEY HAVE IGNORANCE OF THE FACT OF WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE A TRANSGENDER YOUTH IN THE STATE OR ANYWHERE.

SOME OF THE FACTS THEY WERE PULLING OUT WERE NOT WHAT I LIVE EVERY DAY AND NOT WHAT WHEN WE WENT TO THE HEALTHCARE AND OUR THERAPISTS AND ANYONE ELSE WE ARE IN CONTACT DID NOT GEL AT ALL.

THE PROBLEM WAS EDUCATION.

I RESPECT THAT.

BEFORE I BECAME PART OF A TRANSGENDER FAMILY I WAS COMPLETELY UNEDUCATED.

I HAD NOTHING TO EVER PREPARE ME TO BE IN THIS WORLD.

I WAS STARTING WHERE THEY ARE FROM SCRATCH.

I RESPECT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

THAT'S WHY WHEN THEY ASKED ME TO DO IT AS TERRIFIED AS I WAS TO DO IT I DECIDED I NEEDED TO BE THERE BECAUSE I STARTED FROM WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.

IF I CAN LEARN, THEY CAN LEARN, TOO.

I HOPE THEY TRUST US AND THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS IN THIS STATE TO TAKE THE INFORMATION WE ARE GIVING THEM AND SAY THIS IS THE REALITY OF IT.

THE OTHER STUFF THAT WE ARE GETTING IS FROM ELSEWHERE, OUT OF STATE, 50, 60, 70 YEARS OLD, SOME OF THIS INFORMATION.

THAT'S WHY I WAS HERE.

IF THEY ASK ME BACK IN, I'LL DO IT AGAIN.

>> JESS, YOU ARE 21 YEARS OLD.

NO LONGER A MINOR.

>> INDEED.

>> THE TARGETING OF THE LEGISLATION INVOLVES MINORS WHO THE CONTENTION IS ARE TOO YOUNG TO MAKE PERMANENT LIFE-ALTERING DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR BODIES, ESPECIALLY WHERE PUBERTY BLOCKERS AND HORMONE THERAPIES ARE CONCERNED.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE CONCERNS?

>> WELL, I SAY BULL IN ALL HONESTY.

I THINK THE THINKING CHILDREN AS BELOW 13, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TEENAGERS HERE, YOUNG ADULTS, 13-18.

NOT ACTUAL CHILDREN.

NOT 9 OR 5-YEAR-OLDS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TEENS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THIS AWFUL THING.

I WENT THROUGH THIS THING THAT MADE ME FEEL DISGUSTED WITH MYSELF.

THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET BY IT IS TAKING HORMONES.

I'M HAPPY FOR IT.

EVERYBODY AROUND ME HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE AND WONDERFUL.

I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD HAVE DONE WHAT I DID WITHOUT THEM.

THE DOCTORS AND THE MEDICAL -- THEY WERE JUST FANTASTIC.

>> IF YOU HAD NOT DONE WHAT YOU DID, AS YOU PUT IT, AND YOU HAD GOTTEN TO THIS AGE AND YOU HADN'T UNDERGONE THESE THERAPIES, WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE LIKE BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT YOU ARE NOT MATURE ENOUGH AT THOSE AGES TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

>> HONESTLY, I'D BE DEAD.

I WON'T SIT HERE AND SUGAR COAT IT.

I WOULDN'T BE HERE.

WELL, I WOULDN'T BE TALKING TO YOU.

>> WE HAVE HEARD IN THIS CONVERSATION A LOT ABOUT THE SUICIDE RATE AMONG TRANSGENDER YOUTH AND WHAT IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THESE THERAPIES, WOULD SOME OF THEM STILL BE HERE.

WAS THAT YOUR CONCERN FOR YOUR OWN CHILD?

>> YEAH, ESPECIALLY IN THE BEGINNING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA GROUP, THE ENDOCRINOLGOY GROUP FOR SEVEN MONTHS AND WE WERE TRYING TO FIND THERAPISTS AND IN THIS STATE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SPECIALIZE IN THERAPY FOR TRANSGENDER KIDS OR TRANSGENDER AT ALL.

WE WERE SCRAMBLING TO FIND SOMEONE TO HELP.

DURING THAT TIME PERIOD THERE WAS A LOT OF FEAR IN MY HEART.

I KNOW FOR HER SHE WASN'T GOING TO BE HERE LONG ENOUGH TO GET THERE.

SHE USED A TERM, ONCE I GET ON THE HORMONES.

IT WASN'T THE HORMONES THAT SAVED HER.

THAT'S JUST A TERM FOR GETTING TO UAB WHERE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTOOD WHAT SHE WAS GOING THROUGH.

SHE SAID SHE FELT TERRIBLE ABOUT IT.

SHE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HERSELF.

THESE KIDS AREN'T DECIDING TO DO IT.

THEY ARE NOT MAKING IT UP.

I'M CERTAINLY NOT PUSHING THEM INTO IT BUT THEY CAN'T MAKE HEADS OR TAILS OF WHO THEY ARE.

WHEN WE GOT THERE, WE HAD A BUNCH OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS THAT UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE WAS GOING THROUGH AND MADE HER KNOW SHE IS NOT ALONE AND THE THINGS SHE IS FEELING WERE NORMAL FOR THE SITUATION SHE WAS IN.

WE ARE NORMAL PEOPLE IN AN ABNORMAL SITUATION.

IF THIS BILL GOES THROUGH AND THESE KIDS END UP BEING DENIED THE HEALTHCARE THEY NEED, THE KIDS AREN'T DISAPPEARING AS TRANSGENDER YOUTH.

THEY WILL DISAPPEAR AS SUICIDE NUMBERS UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE I KNOW MY DAUGHTER.

I KNOW HOW DELICATE IT WAS FOR THAT FIRST YEAR UNTIL WE GOT WITH THEM.

THAT HEALTHCARE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I CASUALLY AM DEFENDING.

THEY SAVED MY LIFE, MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE, MY FAMILY'S LIFE.

SO, TO CUT IT OFF AND TAKE AWAY THAT OPTION AS A PARENT IS UNFATHOMABLE TO ME.

I CAN'T IMAGINE DOING IT.

>> THERE IS A RECOGNITION DURING THIS DEBATE THAT GENDER DYSPHORIA IS A REAL ISSUE BUT THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE CONTENDED THEY WOULD BE BETTER MADE BY ADULTS.

THAT THESE YOUTH, WHO MAKE THIS DECISION AND GET THEIR PARENTS TO COOPERATE MIGHT LIVE TO REGRET THE DECISION THEY HAVE MADE IN THEIR YOUTH.

>> FIRST THING I ASKED WAS IS ANYTHING WE ARE DOING GOING TO BE STUCK WITH HER PERMANENTLY IF THAT WAS THE CASE?

AGAIN, I DOESN'T IT.

CLEARLY SHE KNOWS WHO HE IS.

SHE HAS SINCE SHE CAME OUT.

I'M COMFORTABLE WITH IT NOW.

AT THE TIME I WASN'T COMFORTABLE.

FIRST THING I SAID IS THERE ANYTHING WE DO THAT IS NOT REVERSIBLE, NO.

WHEN I WAS HEARING TESTIMONY, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BUTCHERING CHILDREN WITH OPERATIONS.

THAT'S NOT ON THE TABLE.

TO HAVE ANY OPERATION IS NOT PART OF THIS AT ALL.

THE FIRST DAY I TALKED TO THE DOCTORS THEY SAID THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE DISCUSS.

IF YOU WANT TO GET OLDER THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO.

BUT WE ARE HERE TO BABY STEP THROUGH THE PROCESS AND YOU CAN TURN AROUND ANY DAY YOU WANT.

AS FAR AS THE CHILDREN, I MAY DISAGREE WITH JESS A LITTLE.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE WAS TRYING TO SAY KIDS AT 12, 13, 14 WHO KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

BUT THERE ARE KIDS WHO ARE 5, 6, 7, 8 TO KNOW THEY ARE NOT ATTACHED TO THE BODY THEY ARE GIVEN AS FAR AS THEIR GENDER IDENTITY GOES.

EVEN IF I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, I KNOW IT IS A REALITY.

I DON'T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW MY DAUGHTER IS BUILT TO UNDERSTAND WHO SHE IS.

I KNOW SHE IS A GIRL.

THERE'S NOTHING IN MY MIND THAT COULD CHANGE THAT AT THIS POINT.

DOES IT MEAN I UNDERSTAND IT?

NO, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TV WORKS BUT I WATCH IT EVERY DAY.

BUT I DON'T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS TO BELIEVE IN HER AND LOVE HER.

AS SHE SITS HERE CLEARLY I WAS CORRECT.

SHE'S 21 NOW.

HAD SHE NOT GOT THE HELP AT 16 SHE WOULDN'T BE HERE TALKING TO US TODAY.

>> JESS, DOES YOUR DAD SPEAK YOUR TRUTH HERE?

>> WELL, I CAN'T -- I HAVE SOME WORDS, BUT YEAH.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS LOOKING BACK?

>> I REGRET NOT TAKING THE TIME TO CALM MYSELF.

I WAS A TEEN.

I WAS -- I HAD ALL OF THESE EMOTIONS AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THEM.

I WISH THAT, ESPECIALLY IN MY ATTITUDE AT THE TIME WAS JUST DISGUSTING AND UNACCEPTABLE AND I WISH I COULD HAVE SLAPPED MYSELF IN THE FACE AND TOLD MYSELF STOP BEING MEAN.

STOP BEING A JERK.

>> THESE KIDS ARE TAUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN THIS WORLD RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE HOPING TO CHANGE THAT SO THESE THINGS BECOME MORE A PART OF REALITY THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T BUMP INTO.

BEING GAY 40 YEARS AGO IS WHERE WE ARE NOW AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.

SO, IT'S A LEARNING CURVE AND I UNDERSTAND.

I WAS PART OF THAT LEARNING CURVE AND I TRY TO RESPECT THAT.

IT IS A SHAME A KID LIKE THAT HAD TO BE ASHAMED OF HERSELF BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T CONTROL WHO SHE FELT INSIDE.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" SHOW WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> STAY IN TOUCH WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE, ON FACEBOOK AND ON TWITTER.

YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT US BY E-MAIL AT DDAILEY@APTV.ORG OR BY MAIL.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, THE ISSUE OF VACCINE HESITANCY IS THE TOPIC.

IT IS PREVALENT IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN ALABAMA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THERE'S AN EFFORT TO COMBAT THAT HESITANCY.

ALBERTA McCRORY IS JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE EFFORTS WE ARE MAKING TO HELP GET INFORMATION OUT TO ALL OF OUR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY WHO HAS BEEN HESITANT ABOUT NOT ONLY TAKING A VACCINE BUT HESITANT ABOUT TAKING THE TEST.

SO WE KNEW FROM THAT THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING TO GET SOMETHING IN PLACE SO WE COULD HELP GET OUR PEOPLE BETTER INFORMED SO THEY CAN MAKE THE DECISION FOR THEMSELVES.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WE ARE NOT TRYING TO FORCE THEM TO MAKE A DECISION.

WE WANT TO GET SOME ACCURATE INFORMATION TO THEM SO THEY CAN MAKE A DECISION FOR THEMSELVES.

>> BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, THERE IS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN HOBSON CITY BEING INVOLVED IN THE EFFORT.

FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW THEIR HISTORY, HOBSON CITY IS THE OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN INCORPORATED CITY IN ALABAMA AND ONE OF THE OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN INCORPORATED CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE PROUD OF HAVING THAT DISTINCTION.

EARLY ON, AS I STATED, WE WERE RELUCTANT IN OUR COMMUNITY TO GET THE TEST WHICH STARTED US ON THIS THING OF TRYING TO GET INFORMATION TO OUR PEOPLE.

IN THE MEANTIME, I HAD ATTENDED A WORKSHOP AT THE HEALTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE IN ATLANTA.

AND THE DOCTOR GRADUATED FROM HOBSON.

SO -- >> FORMER SURGEON GENERAL.

>> SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND HE TOLD US TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE, AND LISTEN TO HIM AND THE CURRENT SURGEON GENERAL.

IN THE MEANTIME, SEVERAL MAYORS FROM ALABAMA HAD ATTENDED THAT LEADERSHIP TRAINING THAT PROVIDES US WITH RESOURCES TO COME BACK INTO OUR OWN COMMUNITIES TO HELP ADVOCATE FOR HELP HEALTH DISPARAGES.

>> MAKING THE DIFFERENCES THAT ARE MOUNTING DAILY.

>> RIGHT.

AND PROVIDING US WITH THE RESOURCES AND TOOLS WE NEEDED TO DO THAT.

SO IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT WE HAD THAT TRAINING.

SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH.

>> SURE.

>> SO WHEN PETE CONROY APPROACHED ME -- HE WORKS AT JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY ABOUT GETTING TOGETHER AND PROVIDING A PANEL, THAT WOULD INCLUDE DR. THATCHER AND OTHER PEOPLE, PERHAPS SOMEONE WITH NOTORIETY, MAIN NAME A FEW STARS AND ATHLETES WHO COULD COME IN AND PEOPLE WOULD SEE THEM GETTING THEIR VACCINE AND PERHAPS ENCOURAGE THEM TO WANT TO TAKE THE VACCINE, AS WELL.

>> WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS A COLLABORATION AMONG A LOT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS.

YOU MENTIONED JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY AND PETE CON TRAY AND YOU HAVE WORKED WITH NOW INCLUDED.

AND THE ALABAMA CONFERENCE OF BLACK MAYORS.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE.

HAVE YOU HAD THE VACCINE?

>> I HAVE NOT.

I AM SCHEDULED TO GET IT ONE DAY NEXT WEEK.

I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

I WANTED TO DO IT IN MY COMMUNITY.

THAT WITH IS ONE OF THE ISSUES WE WERE HAVING EARLY ON.

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ROLLOUT.

AND NOT HAVING ENOUGH TO SERVICE EVERYBODY THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO SERVE.

NOW WE KNOW THE ROLLOUT IS INCREASING.

WE ALSO HAVE THE -- NOT JUST THE ALABAMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND TWO OF THE CLINICS THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN THE VACCINE.

ONE IS IN CALHOUN COUNTY.

SO, THEY WILL START TOMORROW ADMINISTERING THE VACCINE TO PEOPLE IN THAT AREA.

SO, WE WANTED TO HAVE A POPUP SITE IN HOBSON CITY BECAUSE I WANT THE PEOPLE TO SEE ME GETTING THE VACCINE.

HOPEFULLY THAT WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO KNOW THAT I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE VACCINE.

I'M NOT AFRAID OF IT.

I DO UNDERSTAND -- I DO WANT PEOPLE TO TONS, WE ALL WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE KNOW WHY SOME OF THEM ARE HESITANT BECAUSE OF PAST HISTORY.

BUT WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE -- WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN IS FOR PEOPLE TO ALLOW THOSE PAST PROBLEMS TO KEEP THEM FROM GETTING SOMETHING THAT COULD SAVE THEIR LIVES AND SAVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE THEY LOVE.

>> THIS HESITANCY DATES BACK TO THE TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS EXPERIMENTS AND BEYOND.

>> THESE ARE REAL EXPERIENCES.

THIS IS THE REAL HISTORY.

THIS IS WHAT IT IS.

WE TALK ABOUT HEALTH DISPARAGES, THOSE COME UP.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE ONES THAT WERE WELL DOCUMENTED.

WHAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND WHAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IS WE HEAR THEM.

WE UNDERSTAND THEM.

BUT WE ARE NOT WHERE WE WERE 50 YEARS AGO, 30, 40 YEARS AGO BECAUSE AT THAT TIME WE HAD NEVER HAD A BLACK SURGEON GENERAL AND AT THAT TIME SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY PUT IN PLACE AT AFTER TUSKEGEE IN TERMS OF REVIEW BOARDS AND THE MECHANISMS THEY PUT IN PLACE TO HELP PROTECT PEOPLE WHO WERE IN HEALTH STUDIES, THOSE THINGS HAD NOT BEEN DONE.

AND WE DIDN'T HAVE BLACK PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN THE RESEARCH.

WE HAVE A SITUATION NOW WHERE WE STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BLACK PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN HEALTH STUDIES THAT COULD POSSIBLY SAVE OUR LIVES, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO HEART DISEASE AND DIABETES AND, YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS THAT -- DISEASES THAT ARE PREVALENT TO US.

>> BECAUSE AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE CERTAIN UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS WHICH RUN PREVALENTLY AMONG THE POPULATION.

IN MANY WAYS, AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE BEEN MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CROW COVID BECAUSE OF THOSE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THE SURPRISING THING, DON, SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT BECAUSE WE WERE SO SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE DISEASE THAT WE WOULD BE IN A HURRY TO GET THIS TEST AND BREAK THE LINES TO GET INTO THE VACCINE.

AND THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

NOW, IN SOME AREAS THEY ARE FARING BETTER THAN OTHERS, BUT OVERALL THEY ARE STILL THAT RELUCTANCE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD AND GET THIS VACCINE.

>> THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO COMBAT.

YOU HAVE REFERENCED THE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION YOU ARE PUTTING TOGETHER TO A FUTURE DATE AND WE WILL PASS ON THE DETAILS WHEN THEY COME.

AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S A SERIES OF VIDEOS COMING OUT.

THEY CAME TO HOBSON CITY AND FILMED VIDEOS.

>> WE HAD SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THE VACCINE.

SO, THEY CAME OUT TO BE INTERVIEWED BY THE CREW LAST SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT THE CHURCH TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE.

SOME PEOPLE HAD JUST GOTTEN THEIR FIRST SHOT.

SOME WAS IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THEIR NEXT SHOT, I BELIEVE, ON MONDAY.

SO THAT WAS A VERY GOOD THING.

TO HAVE THE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT THIS EFFORT AND TO LET OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT THEY ARE CONFIDENT THAT THIS VACCINE IS SAFE.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO NOWINCLUDED.COM OR YOU CAN E-MAIL THE MAYOR AT CITY HALL THERE IN HOBSON CITY.

WE HAVE THE INFORMATION ON THE SCREEN OR YOU CAN CALL CITY HALL FOR MORE INFORMATION.

MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU AND JACK JACKSONVILLE STATE AND NOW INCLUDED IN THE ALABAMA CONFERENCE OF BLACK MAYORS ARE DOING TO COMBAT THE VACCINE HESITANCY PROBLEM.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND GETTING THE WORD OUT.

>> OF COURSE.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> FINALLY ON THE BROADCAST TONIGHT, IT'S OUR WEEKLY VISIT WITH STATE HEALTH OFFICER SCOTT HARRIS.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE MARKED THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE PANDEMIC THIS WEEK.

TOMORROW IS THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST COVID CASE HERE IN ALABAMA.

GOVERNOR IVEY LOWERED FLAGS IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED IN ALABAMA IN THE LAST YEAR FROM COVID.

OVER 10,000 NOW.

AS WE MARK THIS ANNIVERSARY, WE ARE ALSO EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR THE VACCINE, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS, BUT I THINK IT BEARS POINTING OUT AS WE MARK THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE FIRST CASE IN ALABAMA THAT IN ONE YEAR'S TIME, THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION ALABAMIANS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

>> THAT'S REMARKABLE WHEN YOU CONSIDER A YEAR AGO WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THIS DISEASE WAS IN ALABAMA.

THERE CERTAINLY WASN'T ANYTHING LIKE A VACCINE AVAILABLE.

WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE YEAR WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

IT GOES TO SHOW YOU HOW QUICKLY SCIENCE CAN MOVE WHEN THE WHOLE WORLD IS WORKING ON THE SAME PROBLEM.

IN ONE YEAR'S TIME WE HAVE GONE FROM NO VACCINE AT ALL TO VACCINATING -- 1.2 MILLION SHOTS AS OF THIS WEEK IN ALABAMA AND THAT REPRESENTS 3/4 OF A MILLION.

>> THAT MEANS THE LEAST THE FIRST SHOT, RIGHT?

>> AT LEAST THE FIRST SHOT.

I BELIEVE 300 TO 400 THOUSAND THAT HAVE COMPLETED THEIR SERIES.

I FORGET THE NUMBER EXACTLY BUT AS WE ARE GETTING MORE OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON THAT'S A ONE-SHOT SERIES SO EACH OF THOSE CON CITY CONSTITUTES A FULLY VACCINATED PERSON AS WELL.

WE ARE ONLY GOING TO SPEED UP THE SPEED WITH PEOPLE GET VACCINATED.

>> I MENTIONED 10,000 PLUS DEATHS IN A YEAR IN ALABAMA.

500,000 INDIVIDUAL CASES OF COVID HERE IN ALABAMA IN THE LAST YEAR.

OUR NUMBERS ARE VASTLY IMPROVED OVER THE LAST MONTH OR SO.

VERY STABLE.

THE DAILY COUNT, PLUS THE HOSPITALIZATION RATE, WE HOPE IT STAYS THAT WAY BECAUSE THE VARIANT IS OUT THERE AND COULD AFFECT THINGS SIGNIFICANTLY.

WE WILL KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED.

IN THE MEANTIME GO BACK TO EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY WHICH WILL START MARCH 22nd.

THEY WILL OPEN UP ELIGIBILITY FOR THE SHOTS OF ANYONE 55 AND OLDER, PERSONS WITH HIGH-RISK MEDICAL CONDITIONS OR OTHER CONDITIONS THAT DOCTORS FEEL ARE WARRANTED AND OTHER CRITICAL WORKERS THAT WEREN'T ALREADY IN THE ELIGIBILITY GROUP.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT ADDS A LARGE NUMBER OF ALABAMIANS TO THE POOL WHO ARE ELIGIBLE.

WE FEEL IT IS TIME TO DO THAT.

I THINK EVERYONE WILL REALIZE RATHER QUICKLY IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE JUST HAVE A TON OF VACCINE AROUND.

WE ARE SEEING SLOW, STEADY BUT SLOW INCREASES IN THE AMOUNT OF VACCINE WE HAVE.

WE DON'T HAVE MUCH AVAILABLE VACCINE.

WE CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE VACCINES ON THE SHELVES, BUT IT IS TIME TO EXPAND THE POOL.

WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE THE DEMAND DROP A LITTLE BIT IN THE CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE GROUP.

ADDING GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT YOU MENTIONED WILL APPROXIMATELY DOUBLE THE SIZE OF PEOPLE, OF THE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE.

THERE WILL BE 2.5 AND 3 MILLION ALABAMIANS, MAYBE MORE EVEN WHO ARE GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE.

THE PRESIDENT, AS YOU KNOW, SPOKE THIS WEEK ON TELEVISION AND HE SAID HE THINKS ALL STATES SHOULD EXPAND ELIGIBILITY TO ALL ADULTS AS OF MAY 1st.

WE INTEND TO STRIVE FOR THAT.

AGAIN, THE VACCINE SUPPLY IS STILL THE RIGHT STEP.

>> ARE WE OPTIMISTIC WE ARE GOING TO GET MORE.

WE HEARD THE PRESIDENT SAID HE WAS RAMPING UP VACCINE TO MAKE A VAST AMOUNT AVAILABLE SOON.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HEARING.

THE AMOUNT WE HAVE BEEN GETTING THE PAST SIX OR SEVEN WEEKS HAS BEEN AN INCREASE OF TWO OR 3 PERCENT EACH WEEK.

WE DID GET THIS ONE TIME JUMP WHEN WE GOT JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE A WEEK AGO.

WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO GET LITTLE OR NONE 0 FOR THE REST OF THE MONTH OF MARCH BUT HOPEFULLY IN APRIL WE WILL GET JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE AGAIN.

THE PFIZER MANUFACTURER IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN ABLE TO RAMP UP PRODUCTION.

I THINK IN ABOUT A MONTH, SIX WEEKS TOPS WE WILL HAVE AN ISSUE OF SO MUCH VACCINE AND WE WILL BE TRYING TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO TRY TO GET IT.

>> I MENTIONED IN THE NEW ELIGIBILITY GROUP PEOPLE 55 AND OVER, PEOPLE WITH HIGH-RISK CONDITIONS AND OTHER CRITICAL WORKERS IN THE STATE, A QUESTION THAT COMES UP A LOT IN THIS DISCUSSION, DR. HARRIS, IS WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS?

HERE TO FOR, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN IN THE ELIGIBILITY GROUP BUT I THINK THERE IS A PERCEPTION THEY HAVE BEEN.

THEY ARE ABOUT TO BE WITH THIS EXPANSION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

PERSONS WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE IN THE 1C CATEGORY.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH OTHER CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT MAY HAVE QUALIFIED FOR OTHER REASONS.

THAT IS PUT IN 1C BUT OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF UNDERLYING CHRONIC DISEASE IN OUR COUNTRY.

ALABAMA HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO QUALIFIED STRICTLY ON THE BASIS OF CHRONIC DISEASES ALONE.

THAT HAD BEEN DELAYED UNTIL PHASE 1C BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH VACCINE TO COVER THE GROUP.

>> APPOINTMENTS TO GET SHOTS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND AND PEOPLE ARE BEING CREATIVE IN GETTING THOSE APPOINTMENTS.

I GUESS ONE THING WE COULD SAY TO FOLKS IS IF YOU MAKE MULTIPLE APPOINTMENTS AND GET THE SHOT WITH OTHER APPOINTMENTS SCHEDULED, CANCEL THE OTHER APPOINTMENTS SO THAT VACCINE CAN GO TO OTHER PEOPLE.

>> PLEASE DON'T HOLD YOUR PLACE IN LINE IF YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN VACCINATED.

DO A FAVOR FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR OR SOMEONE IN YOUR COMMUNITY BY CANCELING THOSE APPOINTMENTS.

I THINK THAT IS NORMAL HUMAN BEHAVIOR.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MAKING AS MANY APPOINTMENTS AS THEY CAN FIND TO MAKE BUT ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR VACCINE, CANCEL THE OTHER ONES.

>> WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE NATIONAL GUARD WILL BE HELPING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN VACCINATING FOLKS IN ALABAMA.

THE EXPAND ELIGIBILITY GROUP KICKS IN ON THE 22nd AND THE NATIONAL GUARD UNITS WILL BE SPREAD OUT IN THE STATE AND WILL START MARCH 23rd.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE NEXT DAY THEY WILL BEGIN.

THERE ARE TWO TEAMS OF 55 NATIONAL GUARDSMEN AND WOMEN, ON EACH ONE OF THE TEAMS.

THEY WILL COVER 12 COUNTIES EACH OR 24 TOTAL IN OUR COUNTIES MOST AT RISK BASED ON OUR SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX.

THEY WILL TRY TO DO 1,000 SHOTS A DAY AND MOVING FROM ONE COUNTY TO THE NEXT.

AND AFTER THREE WEEKS THEY WILL REPEAT THE PSYCH TOLL GIVE SECOND SHOTS AND CONTINUING AS LONG AS WE NEED THEM.

WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE THIS POSSIBLE AND THAT THE NATIONAL GUARD STEPPED UP TO DO THIS.

THE GUARD HAVE BEEN TERRIFIC PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THIS RESPONSE AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF IT.

>> YOU MENTIONED PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID HE WANTS TO OPEN ELIGIBILITY UP TO ALL ADULTS BY MAY 1st, WHICH IS VERY OPTIMISTIC.

HE ALSO SAID IN HIS NATIONAL ADDRESS THIS WEEK THAT IF WE STAY THE COURSE AND PRACTICE ALL OF THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS THAT WE HAVE BEEN PRACTICING THAT MAYBE WE CAN GATHER TOGETHER IN SMALL GROUPS ON THE FOURTH OF JULY.

>> BOY, THAT SOUNDS GREAT, DOESN'T IT?

IT HAS BEEN SUCH A CRAZY YEAR.

I THINK WE ALL WANT SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY.

I THINK IT IS A REALISTIC GOAL.

WE WANT TO SEE HOW MUCH VACCINE WE HAVE.

IT CERTAINLY MATTERS HOW WILLING PEOPLE ARE TO SHOW UP AND TAKE IT, OF COURSE, BUT THERE COULD BE SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY BY THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER.

>> YOU SAID THIS WEEK THAT TESTING FOR COVID IN THE STATE IS ACTUALLY DOWN.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SOME OF IT CAN BE DOWN BECAUSE THERE AREN'T AS MANY CASES OR AS MANY PEOPLE SICK OUT SEEKING TESTING BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT PUBLIC HEALTH AND A LOT OF OUR OTHER PARTNERS IN HEALTHCARE ARE USING THE SAME RESOURCES TO GIVE VACCINATIONS THAT WERE USING TO DO TESTING.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ADEQUATE TESTING IN ALL COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT.

THE NUMBERS ARE WAY DOWN.

WE HOPE IT IS JUST BECAUSE THERE IS NOT DISEASE GOING ON OUT THERE, BUT WE WANT TO BE SURE.

>> HOW WORRIED ARE YOU OF A RESURGENCE OF THIS VIRUS?

>> WE HAVE LEARNED NOT TO MAKE PREDICTIONS WITH THE VIRUS BECAUSE WE DON'T DO A GOOD JOB.

WE KNOW THERE ARE VARIANTS THAT ARE EASIER TO TRANSMIT.

WE KNOW THAT IS THE CASE.

IT IS ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY.

>> WHEN THE ALABAMA MASK MANDATE IS ALLOWED TO EXPIRE IN APRIL IT WOULD BE STILL A GOOD IDEA TO WEAR A MASK IN LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

>> THERE IS NOTHING MAGICAL ON APRIL 9th.

I DON'T INTEND TO STOP WEARING MY MASK THEN.

PEOPLE OUGHT TO DO THAT, ESPECIALLY THOSE AT RISK.

>> STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. HARRIS, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE WORLD'S GREATEST ARCHER, SHELBY COUNTY NATIVE HOWARD HILL WAS AN INTERNATIONALLY FAMOUS ARCHER BEST KNOWN FOR HIS TRICK SHOTS AND PROWESS AS A HUNTER.

HE SERVED AS A STUNTMAN, PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR FOR MANY SHORT AND FEATURE FILMS FROM THE '30s TO '50s AND FAMOUS FOR PERFORMING THE BOW AND ARROW STUNTS FOR THE "ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD."

HE WAS INDUCTED IN THE HALL OF FAME IN 1972 >>DON: AND THAT'S "CAPITOL JOURNAL" FOR TONIGHT.

COMING UP MONDAY NIGHT AT 10:30, WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE, INCLUDING A PREVIEW OF THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE WEEK.

AND OUR GUESTS ARE SCHEDULED TO INCLUDE ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL, WHO WILL TALK WITH US ABOUT HE AND CONGRESSMAN ROBERT ADERHOLT SUING THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, CONTENDING IT HAS MANIPULATED AND DELAYED CRUCIAL CENSUS DATA.

WE ARE ALSO SCHEDULED TO BE JOINED BY JANE ADAMS WITH THE GROUP COVER ALABAMA, WHO WILL DISCUSS RENEWED EFFORTS TO EXPAND MEDICAID IN THE STATE.

FOR ALL OF US AT "CAPITOL JOURNAL," THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M DON DAILEY.